How Law Began

Becoming a lawyer was not the highest expectation of my heart as a child. I have always admired professionals in uniforms. My dad was a soldier, I lived the greater part of my life in an army barracks, so falling in love with well ironed uniforms came naturally. I still do a double take when I see a well-starched and ironed uniform!

When I got into SS1 (the class where teenagers weave their aspirations and fantasies into reality), I went for the Sciences as it was my father's dream that I would become a Doctor (I secretly preferred the Nurse's uniform anyway). Beyond the elements, Chemistry was a blur. Physics was pure torture! I couldnt understand why Further Mathematics was in our curriculum and secretly cursed the inventors, Physicists and Chemists in my heart. They were created to torture me!

I towed the line of honour in SS2, dropped the annoying Sciences and took on Literature in English ... then, I found my true calling. At 15, I was writing poems Wole Soyinka would have been proud of (or so my Teachers said). I was the toast of my Literature and English Language Tutors, but while my father encouraged me to take Government seriously so I could become a lawyer (as that was the only way he could be compensated if I wasnt going to be studying Medicine), in my heart, I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to show starry eyed teenagers the beautiful world of Poetry. I wanted them to see William Shakespeare as the truest hero of the arts!!! My mum couldn't understand how in spite of all resources expended, I would settle for a 'lowly profession' as Teaching. She put her 'Mama Antics' to work, worked on my Psyche, and today, I brandish a Law Degree!!!! What my Mum told me? .... that's gist for another day ;)